Apparatus for making duplicate phonograph-records.



J. W. AYLSWORTH. MAKING DUPLICATE PHONOGRAPH R ECORDS.

APPARATUS FOR APPLICATION FILED APB. 4,1907.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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J. W. AYLSWORTH. V APPARATUS FOR MAKING DUPLICATE PHONOGRAPH EH00 EDS.

Ar'rmoulon Mp2]: APR. 4, 19.07.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wfizzxsvav km 4 P J. W. AYLSWORTH. APPARATUS FOR MAKING DUPLICATE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS. APPLIOATIONIILED MBA, 1907.

936,275. Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

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' Specification er Letters recent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

Original application filed may; 31 19.06, Serial no. 319,422. Renewed A rii 2s, 19o7, Serial Elm-369,755.

Divided and this application filed April 4, 1907. Serial No. 366,248. 1

1907, #369,7 which has matured into Patent No. 855,606, granted June 1, 1907 My invention relates to improved apparatus for the manufacture of duplicate phonograph records being particularly adapted for the production of an improved record which will be claimed in another application 7 but which may be employed for the manufacture of records of other types.

The improved record referred to is a composite cylindrical structure, having an outer layer of a tough, smooth, amorphous material, in which the record surface is formed and from which a smooth and brilliant reproduction can be obtained, and a main body or support therefor composed 'of a very cheap and tough material unsuitable itself for receiving a record surface, the two layers being welded together so as to constitute practically a single homogeneous structure, as I will more fully hereinafter describe. i

The process for which the present invention is particularly adapted isone in which the material in a molten state or in solid or powdered form is introduced into a rapidly rotating mold, as I describe in Patents Nos. 855,553, 855,554 and 855,605, granted June 4:, 1907, the outer layer being first formed by the centrifugal force developed and, when the material thereof is sufficiently set but preferably while still slightly plastic, the material to constitute the inner or main layer is introduced so as to be intimately welded to the outer layer. The process also contemplates the carrying on of operations by which the interior of the record may be suitably developed to fit the supporting mandrels of talking machines of the phonograph type, although if an expanding mandrel is employed as disclosed in the patent of Aylsworth and Dyer, dated June 4, 1907, No. 855,601, no separate finishing operation is necessary, since when the records are removed from the molds after being chilled therein, they will, as an inherent result of companying drawings, forming part of this Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved duplicate phonograph record, Fig. 2, a similar view ofthe rotating mold, showing the formation of the record thereon, Fig. 3', a similar view illustrating the operation of tapering the bore of the record when desired, while still in a plastic condition within the mold, Fig. 1, a similar view illustratingthe operation of forming the record on its bore with a series of concentric ribs. Fig. a similar view, showing the reaming of the record, while cold, to taper its bore. Fig. 6, a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5, Fig. '7, an end view partly in section, showing convenient apparatu for rotating and cooling the mold, Fig. 8, f ngitudinal' sectional view of the apparatus used for finishing the bore of the record, while in a more or less plastic state within the mold, the section being taken on the line 88 of Fig. 9, Fig. 9, a plan view of the same with the mold and record removed, and Fig. 10, an end view.

In all of these views corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference.

The mold 1 is of tubular form, carrying on its bore the representation in relief of the record to be duplicated and is produced in any suitable und convenient way. prcferably by a process of vacuous deposit. as is This mold s proing the record, and with a rcurovnbhr end flange 3, adapted to be secured in place in any suitable way. While the record is being formed in the mold. the latter is rotated so as to causethe material to be uniformly Patent No. 855,605, above referred to, and

comprising a pair of supporting rollers onwhich the moldis carried, and a rubber #faced driving roller for frictionally ten ga 'ng androtating the mold, said driving 'rol er being rotated by a belt 6 and pulleys 7 and& Material may be introduced within the mold in a molten state, the mold being .suitably heated so as to prevent the material from congealing thereon, and to permit the.

material to remain in aperfectly fluid state while it isbeing distributed over the record 855,605; or instead, the mold need not be finaterialis of sufficient bulk and is heatedsurfac'e, asI disclose in my said Patent No.

heated provided it is very thin and the I to a sufiicient extent tobring the temperature of the moldup to or above the melting point of the material, as-I disclose in my 'Patent No. 855,554; or instead. material may be introduced within a hot mold in the solid state, preferably in powdered or granular condition, which I disclose in said Patent No. 855,558. In whatever way or condition the material is introduced Within the mold, .the' latter is rotated at the necessary speed f to ..developsufiicie11t centrifugal force and the mater al is distributed uniformlyover 'tlierecord surface so as to form a relatively thin -layer;'1(l, which during the time ofits distribution will be maintained in a fluid condition so as to displace any air or gas bubblesand result in a very perfect impres sion 'being taken. This outer or surface layer. of .the record is now caused to set or harden preferably by rapidly chilling the :mold, for instance by a pad -11 carried by a trough 12, to which cooling water is --ad- *ticallya continuous structure.

' H of'thematerial comprising the body 13, it

' retain its solidified condition.

will not be practicable to introduce the material for thelatter layer in solid form, since itis important that after the surfacing layer has been properly distributed it should Therefore, I introduce a material for theinner layer in the molten state and continue the rotation of the mold until the material has set I sufficiently to retain its cylindrical form, the

cooling pad 11, or other media being applied to the moldto result in the rapid cooling of the material.

'If it is desired that the records should 'the record is lifted out.

face.

have a cylindrical bore, the operation will be now complete, and as soon as't-he record has contracted sufficiently to be removed from the mold, the flange 3 is first removed and If, however, it is desired that the record should be formed witha tapered bore either smooth or having a series of concentric ribs, a further finishmg operation requires tobe performed. This finishing of the record may be-eifected,

'while the record is still ina moreor less plastic state, although sufficiently hard to retain its shape, by means of a mandrel 14:,

- either'smooth, as shown in Fig. 3, or provided avitha series of grooves 15, to form concentric ribs on the record (Fig. 4). The mandrel 14 is mounted to'rotate easily on a stationary stub-shaft 16, maintained at the proper angle to givethe desired taper to the bore and carried in a vertically movable slide 17. The slide 17 is mounted in a head to be rotated thereby, and the lever 21 is operated so as to cause the mandrel 14: to enter the mold, after which the lever 19 is moved to depress the mandrel and result in the displacement of the plastic mass, so as to form a bore of the desired taper and shape, the I mandrel 1 1 rotating as the material is displaced, as will be obvious. I find that in this way a tapered bore can be very .per-

fectly formed in a record composed of material which cannotbe efiectively out, whilein plastic state and hence while still engaging the mold. Many materials suitable for the formation of at least the interior of duplicate sound records are sov viscid and sticky when ina plastic condition that any attempt to cutthem in that state would be impossible. However, by displacing the marecords composed of extremely viscid materials. It is preferable that themandrel 14 should be kept as cold as possible during the finishing operation, and it may, therefore be chilled before its introduction into the record, or be chilled while within the mold in any suitable way.

In Figs. 5 and 6, 1 illustrate the finishing of the record on its interior by a cutting operation performed after the record has become cold, and hence after it is freed from the mold. I make use ofa chuck 23 of any suitable character, provided preferably with a lining 24 of soft material, such as felt and rubber so as not to scratch the record sur- The record is introduced within the chuck so as to be rotated thereby and a cutting tool 25 engages the bore so as to finish the same on the desired taper. As I havealready indicated, the surfacing layer 10 of the record should be composed of a hard and extremely smooth material, so as to resist wear of the reproducer stylus, and eliminate scratching noises as much as possible. This surfacing layer may be made quite thin, so that a relativelv expensive material for the same can be e ectively used. An example of a suitable composition from which the surfacing layer may be formed is the special transparent composition described in my Patent No. 676,111, dated June 11th, 1901.

A suitable example of material from which.

the inner or body layer may be formed, and

which while being extremely cheap is at the same time tough and of approximately the same coeflicient of expansion as the material above referred to, is the following: Asphalt 80-parts, stearin pitch 20 parts. In the make .up of this composition the ingredients are cited and intimately mixed.

Having now described my invention, what f 'claim 'asfnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. Apparatus for finishing the interior of a duplicate phonograph .record, comprising ineansfor rotatingthe record in a semi-plastic state, a rotatable mandrel the surface of which is arranged at an angle to the axis of the record, and means for introducing the 'mandrel within the record and for engaging the same, with thebore thereof so as to displace the semi-plastic material, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

.2. Apparatus for finishing the interior of '."-,'-duplicate phonographrecords, comprising jmeans for rotating the record in a semi-plastic state, a rotatable mandrel, whose surface is arranged at an angle to the axls of the record. means for moving-the mandrel horizontally for introducing the same within the record, and means for moving the mandrel vertically for engaging the same with the bore of the record to displace some of the material forming the latter, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. Apparatus for finishin the interior of duplicate phonograph records comprising in combination, means for rotating the record in a semi-plastic state, a horizontally movable head, a vertically movable slide carried by the head, and a rotatable mandrel carried by said slide, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

-t. Apparatus for finishing the interior of a duplicate phonograph record, comprising means for rotating the record in a semi-plastic state, a member, the surface of which is arranged at an angle to the axis of the record, and means for introducing the mandrel within the record and for engaging the same with the bore thereof so as to displace the semi-plastic material, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. Apparatus for finishing the interior of a duplicate phonograph record, comprising means for rotating the record in a semi-plastic state, a cylindrical member the axis of which is arranged at an angle to the axis of the record, and means for introducing the mandrel within the record and for engaging the same with the bore thereof so as to dis place the semi-plastic material, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 3rd day of April 1907.

JONAS \V. AYLSVVORTH.

\Vitnesses FRANK D. Lnwls, ANNA R. Knnnu. 

